CSSK Onsite After School Care Program – Expression of Interest required.

The school is currently considering running an onsite after school care program in conjunction with Castlemaine Childcare Co-operative (Carinya). Running from Monday – Friday from 3.10pm to 6.30pm, the program would be available to a small group each day. Children would enjoy an afternoon tea, craft activities and general leisure time until they are collected.

The program is potentially open to children from Prep to Class 8. Kindergarten will not be incorporated at this stage.

Expressions of Interest need to be lodged directly with Castlemaine Childcare via the “After School Care Interest Form” located on their website. Follow this link to complete the form;

School News

From the Principal

The year is well underway and everyone is back into their rhythm!

Sports program

Our new Friday afternoon sports program has started well with very positive feedback coming from the children. Golfers had an interesting beginning but we can look forward to the arrival of the golf pro for next weeks’ session.

Waldorf 100

There are lots of preparations going on at present for the Waldorf 100 exhibition happening from the 1st-16th March. I think Rudolf Steiner would appreciate how this education and other initiatives in farming, medicine and architecture have grown throughout the world with 1050 schools in 60 countries. There are 40 Steiner schools represented by the SEA in Australia with a further 10 associate members.

Committees

This year we have formed a number of new committees to look at areas of the school in need of review and/or renewal.

Marketing

Farm Garden

Festivals

The oval

Lisa Devine, who is a Christian Community priest, joined us for our planning days at the beginning of the year and gave some inspiring insights into the universal messages derived from the Christian impulse. This will be very valuable background for us to draw upon when we are formulating our festivals this year. Lisa will be available at different times during the year and we look forward to her next visit.

Regards, Brian

"HEAD, HEART & HANDS" Exhibition

Hello all,
The exhibition is coming together so thank you for delivering your precious items. After a weekend of framing I can see how full the exhibition will be.
Keep an eye out for an invitation to our Family Evening.

Craft classes are in full swing, with exciting projects underway in all classes. It has been such a productive start to the year and the children seem to be enjoying themselves.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me. You can do this via the office.
Happy crafting, Chris

Welcome to Year 8

The teachers and I held a “Welcome to Class 8” ceremony on Wednesday morning, recognising the special nature of their last year in the school and their leading role.

We talked about their upcoming year and the teachers expressed their support for the group and had some advice about how they might approach the task of their Major projects. We recognise Year 8 is a very big year with particular challenges and it is important for the students to feel support from every quarter.

We are very grateful to the P&F for providing such a lovely spread for us to enjoy.

Regards Brian.

Bus Service to CSSK

A brief note to let you know that we will have a further update available shortly on the proposed changes to the bus service to CSSK. Stay tuned!

Clothing Policy

Dear Parents,

As we commence the 2019 school year, I seek your support to enact our Clothing Policy with your children. The school has consciously chosen not to support a ‘School Uniform’ approach to clothing but rather to adhere to a code of clothing that ensures all students are dressed in clothes that are appropriate, comfortable, functional and modest.

This means in general terms:

“Students attend school in (from clothing policy):

·plain coloured or patterned clothing, with no words, pictures or graphics on them.

·clothing is made from natural materials / fibres such as wool or cotton Students do not attend school with:

i.Clothes or bags printed with images of death, violence or aggression, or messages and signs of a ‘suggestive’ or ambiguous nature are not in keeping with the ethos of the school and are therefore not allowed.

ii.In addition, in keeping with the lack of commercial or advertising matter in the school, we also ask parents to ensure students are not wearing clothes printed with logos or promotional material. Small brand labels which can be covered with the palm of the hand are acceptable.

For more information about hair, shoes and jewellery, I have attached an excerpt of the Clothing Policy that includes greater detail.

Regards, Brian

Bike Entry into CSSK

Please view the attached map for the approved bike route into the school for any students/parents riding their bikes. Cyclists are NOT permitted to enter the school via the main driveway as there have been some near misses and safety concerns. The map identifies the alternative route to keep everyone safe.

Thanks.

Kinder News

Welcome to week 4 of Kinder.

We are already a few weeks into the year.

Thank you for all your support and care of your little ones, they have settled in beautifully to kinder. Some children have needed to take a bigger breath than other children, but generally it has been very smooth. A credit to yourselves and to the previous relationship building activities that we have all engaged in. Thank you.

Please note our parent night is coming up on Thursday 28th of February, 7.00 -8.30pm. Please come along, it is a great opportunity to share a cup of tea and get to know our Kindergarten community a little better. We will also start making your children’s sleeping angel and their birthday candle.

Also please note all children need Sunhats, change of clothes and fruit each day. There is also a special pocket for each child above the hooks, on the porch, at Kinder, please get in the habit of checking these each week.

Warm regards, Tobie

Prep News

Our focus for these first weeks is to support the children to transition and feel comfortable and confident in their new Prep space. We are working to establish the prep rhythms and routines, what we do as the day and week unfolds and also how we do it. The children have enjoyed renewing friendships from Kinder and also building new friendships with children they did not know last year. All the children are settling in well and becoming increasingly confident as each day passes.

In Morning Circle we have been singing and moving to songs and verses about summer and the sea. Our first story was about Sandy the beach gnome. In the sandpit the children are enjoying digging rivers and building islands.

It has been difficult to find a date that suits most families for our Class meeting this term, it has been rescheduled to Wednesday 13th March 7.30-9pm in the Prep room. We will discuss aspects of the Prep curriculum and how the Class is settling in. I hope to see as many families as possible there.

I would like to begin meeting with parents over the next few Fridays and will put some time sheets outside Prep. If you would like to talk about how your child is settling in please choose a time.

Sera has already began texting lots of messages and reminders to you, thanks Sera. Just a few reminders: Please read the Clothing Policy and ensure your child comes appropriately dressed each day. No jewellery, nail polish or pictures on clothes, coats, school bags etc. Also if your child’s hair is long enough, it should be tied back.

I am looking forward to another wonderful week with your children. Please remember to let me know if you have any concerns or questions.

Warm regards, Heather

Class 1 News

Class 1 children have had a fabulous couple of weeks settling into the rhythm of Term 1. Last week we began our Letters of the Alphabet Main Lesson block, which we will be working on over the next few weeks. The children are all working diligently, learning the shapes of new letters and practicing their handwriting technique. Over the course of our Form Drawing Main Lesson at the beginning of Term, the children practiced drawing straight and curved lines in various forms and patterns. Building upon this, we have started our letter journey with those capital consonants which have a shape consisting of straight lines (eg. T, F, L, K, N). Once we have covered these, we will move on to consonants which include curved lines in their form. A Fairy or Folk tale is told each day, to accompany the letters studied.

A reminder to parents that our Class One Parent Meeting will be held on Wednesday the 13th of March at 7pm. More details will be sent out soon.

Warm Regards, Fiona

Class 2 News

At the end of Class 1 the children asked if I would do a “spot” picture at the start up of our Class 2 year. “What do you mean?” I asked, somewhat bewildered “You know Anne, one of those pictures where you add extra things each day and we have to “spot” them. I dutifully obliged. You may like to see if you can spot the differences too!

Apart from that, we are completing our Austalian Legends main lesson. The children have done beautiful pictures, paintings and great handwriting. Next week we begin a maths main lesson. Always lots of fun in Class 2!

Class 3 News

Hello Everyone,

Class Three have spent the last two weeks hearing more stories that the old couple told the travellers at the oasis. They’ve heard how the world was created by the God, Yaweh and the Elohim, and also how Yaweh created a truly beautiful garden for Adam and Eve to live in. With such lovely weather, the class have spent the mornings painting each of the days of creation. The paintings you see here are of the seventh day, where Yaweh rested and admired all that had been created.

It is wonderful to see just how many children in the class practised their times tables during the holidays! The class enjoy playing Around The World, using multiplication, and are getting really good at answering questions.

To celebrate the Lunar New Year, the class enthusiastically made paper Koi fish. Most of the class were so engaged in this activity that they’ve also been making them at home.

The class have begun to sing in rounds, which has been quite challenging, however they seem to have quickly mastered playing London’s Burning in rounds with their recorders. Practice makes progress!

Warm regards, Cathy

Class 4 News

Class Four cooking Okonomiyaki for lunch, with cabbage and spring onions from the garden. Delicious!

Class 5 News

Hello Everyone,
It has been an excellent start to the year for our class and our two new students Arlo and Solomon have been made to feel most welcome (as have I) and I express my gratitude. We are exploring Ancient India at present and the stories of adventure, loyalty, redemption and struggle are resonating with us all. On Friday’s Raziel is facilitating Geometry and form drawing which is providing real balance. Recorder and singing practice is gaining momentum and outside the class is working on their team work and basketball skills at the same time! May everyone have a rewarding fortnight, Dave

Class 7 News

Welcome back to the 2019 school year everyone! It has been lovely catching up with all the Class Seven students – all taller and a bit more bright-eyed than before the holidays.

We swing into Arthurian Literature first off this term, with writing, calligraphy and beautiful illustrations. Physics is also on the agenda, moving on from our class 6 adventures into more complex work.

We welcome Taylah and her parents, Lisa & Neil and older sister Jayne into our class and the school community.

Thank you to everyone who came to our Class meeting last week. Camp forms to fill out have been sent home. Please send back as soon as possible.

Cheers, Anna & Phil

…And for parents interested in our Swing Fit golfing program here is some further information FEBRUARY 2019 Fairway

Class 8 News

Dear Class 8 Families,

After hearing about the fall of Constantinople, and the rebirth of ancient antiquity inspired by the Constantines fleeing west, we have begun to study major discoveries in art and invention that happened during the Renaissance period. We have heard about Brunelleschi and his discovery of perspective, and Danilo has begun to teach sessions on perspective drawing. During Main Lesson, students have begun individual research projects on Leonardo Da Vinci, a man of “unquenchable curiosity” and “feverishly inventive imagination”; truly an exemplar of the Renaissance spirit!

It is very inspiring to be hearing about developments in Major Projects! Such a fabulous and diverse array of ideas. Please remind your son or daughter to bring aspects of their project to school on their project day (either Monday or Thursday).

As you know, we were invited to a welcome morning tea on Wednesday, hosted by all the teachers. It was a very significant and heart-warming occasion, and the students conducted themselves with maturity and grace. It was a joy to share it with them.

Our class meeting is this Thursday 21st February at 7:30pm. Hope to see you there.

With love, Kate

Parents & Friends

Parents & Friends Committee

The first Parents & Friends Committee meeting for the year will be held on Wednesday, 27 March at 7.30pm. This meeting will be at school but we’ll aim to find a more relaxed venue for the future. It’s likely a couple of meetings a year will be in the evening but most are likely to be in the day time. We’re open to trying to suit people’s availability and preferences though, so please do get in touch if you’re interested in participating.

The Committee will organise parent contributions to festivals, social events and Spring Fair as well as coordinating any other projects parents would like to see get off the ground. All are very welcome to attend.

Catering and Baking

The Parents & Friends supplies catering for the school when required for planning days and meetings. The money we earn from this provides our budget to keep the cupboards stocked with tea, nappies and various other supplies. It is always handy to have more people to call on, so if you’re keen to do some cooking or baking every now and again, let me know. We will reimburse all costs you incur.

Sujeeva is heading up the catering for the invitation-only opening of the Head, Hearts & Hands Exhibition on 1 March. To showcase some homemade and home grown on the antipasto table she’s looking for donations of:

We could need a few people to help out on the evening between 5pm-7.30pm. Let me or Sujeeva know if you’d like to come along and help us serve and tidy up.

On a related matter, if you’re making jams or other preserves while the produce is abundant, please think of Spring Fair later in the year and put a jar or two aside. If you have produce you’d like to donate for us to preserve, please let us know. We have jars and saucepans ready!

Craft Group

Our Craft Group has started the year with a week of doll repairing and some Easter dry felting. Over the next three weeks Rose will be creating some beautiful Steiner dolls for the classrooms. We are aiming to complement the existing dolls and increase diversity among them. Rose is very experienced and skilled in making Steiner dolls in a variety of sizes and forms so if you’ve wanted to make or finish your own doll, this is a wonderful opportunity. Contact Rose on 0432 904 240 if you’d like further information.

Shrove Tuesday

Shrove Tuesday is coming up on Tuesday, 5 March. Traditionally we mark the day with a pancake breakfast in the Heartlands before school. BYO cooked pancakes or batter and a picnic rug if you have one. The P&F will supply toppings. Details will come home closer to the day.

Lost Property

There is an enormous amount of lost property left over from the classroom moves last year. Hellie has folded and sorted it into tubs so it should be easier to find that thing you’re missing! It is on the table in the Parents Room.

With love, Julie Tisdale, Convenor, Parents & Friends

Music News

Hi Parents,

Here is the schedule for our Ensembles.

Tuesday – Class 6 Strings, 7 & 8 Multi-Instrumental

Wednesday – Class 5

Thursday – Class 7/8 Strings

Friday – Class 4

Please ensure your child has their instrument AND music for the session. String Ensemble starts at 8.45am promptly. Finding music and instruments for those who have not remembered is time consuming and could be spent rehearsing.

Thankyou for your co-operation.

Here are another couple of fantastic links to articles on the importance of music!

French News

Bonjour tout le monde et bienvenue á la rentrée!

Hello and welcome back for the start of our new school year!

French students in classes Six, Seven and Eight have made a start to their studies with puzzles, songs, stories, beautiful front cover designs and a great deal of enthusiasm. Class Six are just beginning their French studies by listening to the sound of spoken French, brainstorming their cultural knowledge and attempting simple greetings and spelling. Class Seven are discovering that their Main Lesson historical era – the Middle Ages – provides many opportunities to explore the connections between England and France, beginning with the Age of Chivalry; and Class Eight are consolidating the wonderful progress they have made in their French studies over the past two years in anticipation of the many challenges this final year of study will bring.

And in March, all of our language students – both French and Spanish – will also have the opportunity to enjoy an incursion from the Carousel Puppet Theatre to present their bilingual version (Spanish/English and French /English) of the fable of Aladdin and his Magic Lamp. We look forward to it!

au revoir, Lynn

Camps News

Our exciting year of camps is soon to begin. If anyone wants a great place to purchase gear for their child I can recommend Rock Hardware, 38 Neale Street Bendigo. They are open Monday – Thursday, you can ring Steve on 0427 418 886. If you mention that you are from our school he will give you a discount. His website is soon to be operational-www.rockhardware.com.au

Outside the office, you can find catalogues and price lists.

Lisa, 0488 102 191

Wellbeing News

Hi Everyone,

This last couple of weeks one issue that seems alive for many people is anxiety. It can be very challenging when it appears in us or our children- we may feel there is something wrong with us, and/or no one else has this experience. Sometimes it can take us a while to realise or name that what is happening is anxiety.

Anxiety becomes debilitating when it gets in the way of living our lives. Recent statistics show that 1 in 10 children suffer from anxiety to a significant extent, and 1 in 3 young people will experience it at some point.

Good news is, there is lots out there that can help. The local library has more than twenty readily available books on anxiety- I borrowed a number this week to brush up on my knowledge. There’s loads of good advice available on the internet. A chat with a trusted friend or your GP can be a good start. Or come and have a chat with me- via the Class Teacher is the preferred method. I’m generally at school on Wednesdays and Thursdays

Soccer Season is about to begin!

Soccer Season is about to begin!

Soccer Season is about to begin!

Book Club for Busy People - Castlemaine Library

THE NOVELLA BOOK CLUB FOR BUSY PEOPLE

Too busy to read? Did you say ‘I’ll pass’ to The Luminaries and War and Peace? Is your brain crying out for literary sustenance? This novella book-club for busy people is a monthly library-facilitated book club where we will read stirring novellas, scintillating essays, striking short stories, and nothing over 150 pages – we promise! Last Monday of the month, 5pm-6pm, beginning March. To register online please visit goldfieldslibraries.com

Babysitter Available

Dear parents of children in the Castlemaine Steiner School and Kindergarten my name is Yuma. I was a student last year who graduated in Year 8. I live locally in Castlemaine and I am looking for some babysitting work. My parents are happy to drive me to and from your house to babysit your child or children. Please get in touch with me if you would like to meet me and see if your children and I connect. I have had experience babysitting children and enjoy their company.